Scraper elevator drive mounting

Abstract

A mounting for a drive mechanism of an elevator used in a carry-type earthmoving scraper wherein the elevator assists in loading material into the scraper. The drive mechanism includes provision for absorbing torsional vibrations generated by flights of the elevator striking material being loaded and, coincident therewith, axial alignment is maintained between driving and driven members of the drive mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mounting for a drive gear assembly operatively connected to a drive sprocket assembly of a flight-type elevator for isolating torsional stresses incurred during loading of material comprising a material loading elevator means including an elevator frame and a plurality of material conveying flights supported thereon for movement in a predetermined endless path of movement for loading materials,   said plurality of material conveying flights being supported by said elevator frame upon a rotatable drive sprocket assembly and rotatable idler wheels carried by said elevator frame,   said drive sprocket assembly having a driven end operatively connected to a drive gear assembly for rotating said drive sprocket assembly to move said plurality of material conveying flights in an endless path of movement,   a cantilevered support arm carried by said elevator frame for supporting said drive means,   said cantilevered support arm being supported by mounting means upon said elevator frame to effect movement in a plane transverse to the rotational axis of said drive sprocket assembly in response to a predetermined force being applied to one of said plurality of material conveying flights during loading of material, said mounting means comprises a bushing block which torsionally rotates about a longitudinal axis through a resilient bushing.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an end of said cantilevered support arm is fixedly secured to a bushing block supported about a resilient bushing secured to said elevator frame. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including means secured to said elevator frame and positioned adjacent to and spaced from said cantilevered support arm for limiting the movement thereof in a plane transverse to the rotational axis of said roller. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said resilient bushing is secured about a pin supported on said elevator frame such that movement of said bushing block fixedly secured to said support arm will flex said resilient bushing about said pin. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pin is fixedly secured to said elevator frame to prevent movement of said pin relative to said frame during movement of said cantilevered support arm. 
     
     
       6. An elevator having a drive gear assembly mounting for isolating torsional stresses incurred during material loading comprising a drive sprocket assembly and an idler wheel assembly rotatably supported at opposite ends of an elevator frame defining the run length of an elevator moving in an endless path of movement for loading materials,   a chain link conveyor carrying a plurality of material conveying flight members and supported about said drive sprocket assembly and said idler wheel assembly,   a drive gear assembly carried by a support arm cantilevered from said elevator frame and operatively connected to one end of said drive sprocket assembly, for effecting movement of said chain link conveyor in an endless path of movement,   said cantilevered support arm having a support end freely supporting said drive gear assembly and a mounting end resiliently mounted to said elevator frame,   said support arm mounting end having a bushing mounted bushing block secured thereto and engaging a coupling pin fixedly secured to said elevator frame such that movement of said support arm will flex the bushing of said bushing mounting bushing block about the longitudinal axis of said coupling pin to isolate or absorb torsional stresses incurred during material loading.